The Pokémon franchise has always had a special place in gamers' hearts. It’s the kind of series that defined childhoods, sparked playground rivalries, and turned countless Game Boys into battlefields.
So when Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! were announced in 2018, fans braced for a nostalgic return to Kanto. But when the games finally dropped, the reception wasn’t all cheers and confetti — it was... complicated.
Some embraced the charming reimagining, while others felt the core of Pokémon was being simplified to the point of no return.
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+ 5So what were the Let’s Go games exactly? Released for the Nintendo Switch on November 16, 2018, Let’s Go, Pikachu! and Let’s Go, Eevee! were modern remakes of Pokémon Yellow, itself a love letter to the original Red and Blue games, with a splash of the anime’s influence.
The games took players back to Kanto with updated 3D visuals, motion-controlled catching mechanics inspired by Pokémon GO, and a focus on accessibility. While technically mainline entries, they walked a delicate line between classic adventure and mobile-style casual experience, hoping to bridge the gap between veteran trainers and newcomers.
click to enlarge+ 5To be fair, there was a lot to love. Visually, Let’s Go was one of the most polished Pokémon titles to date, with beautifully rendered environments, smooth animations, and vibrant colors that made Kanto feel alive again.
The following Pokémon mechanic was back and better than ever. Not only could every Pokémon walk beside you, but some could be ridden, making the world feel more personal and immersive. The Pokémon size scaling was also the most accurate it has been.
For many, it was a nostalgia-fueled joyride with improved quality-of-life features and just enough charm to keep them smiling.
click to enlarge+ 5But for others, the Poké-magic was short-lived. The new catching mechanic, which completely removed wild Pokémon battles in favor of a Pokémon GO-style throwing system, rubbed traditional fans the wrong way.
Battles are a cornerstone of Pokémon, and replacing them felt like removing the soul of the game. Add to that the extremely easy difficulty, thanks in part to automatic EXP Share and limited challenge, and a barebones post-game, and some fans found themselves bored rather than enchanted.
The games were gorgeous, sure, but many wondered if they were too streamlined.
click to enlarge+ 5Now, with the Nintendo Switch 2 looming on the horizon and whispers of remakes constantly swirling, fans are starting to ask — will we get more Let’s Go titles? Johto seems like the obvious next stop.
The idea of riding on an Ampharos through Ecruteak City or seeing the Burned Tower in glorious HD sounds incredible. But the excitement is mixed. Some fans dread a repeat of the simplified mechanics, while others hope for a reworked approach that honors the charm of Let’s Go while fixing its missteps.
click to enlarge+ 5In the end, whether we want new Let’s Go games depends on one thing: growth. The first titles were bold experiments — not perfect, but ambitious. If Game Freak decides to revisit the formula, fans will be watching closely. We want our nostalgia, yes, but we also want challenge, depth, and replayability.
And if those ingredients are in place, then maybe, just maybe, we’ll be ready to walk that simplified path again — with our trusty partner Pokémon right by our side or by our shoulder.